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Lock Up > Pleasures Pave Sewers > Reviews
Lock Up - Pleasures Pave Sewers

Good though nothing original - 83%

Noktorn, March 16th, 2009

This reminds me a great deal of another redundant pseudo-side project of Napalm Death, Defecation. Both bands play (or played) a breed of death/grind very in tune with modern Napalm Death, and both make you wonder why they were necessary to make when their music is so similar to the original band. Neither are bad, but both are certainly second-tier bands in the death/grind scene that aren't particularly necessary to anyone's discography. However, if you've got some money to burn, there's certainly no harm in checking either out, because you'll undoubtedly get some solid, if relatively unoriginal, death/grind for your money.

Lockup sounds most similar to a very modern version of 'Harmony Corruption' with more melodic riffing than that release. The riffs on this album are actually surprisingly articulate and tremolo-based for the most part; you'll hear one of the most non-Napalm Death sounding portions at the very beginning of 'After Life In Purgatory', where an incisive, almost black metal tremolo riff greets the listener. The rest of fairly conventional crust/grind strummed chords between sections of tight and snapping blast beats. Minus the more unconventional tremolo riffs, the riffing is extremely similar to Napalm Death's death/grind works, though this is hardly a bad thing; they're as consistently strong as that band without ever completely cloning their sound (though it certainly comes close on occasion). The vocals are also of note; provided by Tomas Lindberg of At The Gates, the growls have a high-pitched, ripping quality to them which fits the more melodic riffing.

One might notice from a look at the tracklisting that nearly all the songs are very short, with most coming in the two to three minute range. This is actually great for the album; most of the tracks sound the same, and the short length of the tracks (and the short length of the album as a whole) makes for a consistently engaging listen, since none of the tracks manage to get bogged down with excessive repetition. The brutal drumming and guitars stay compelling because they never have the chance to overwork themselves. The short length of the album is also for the best; I can't imagine that this would be tolerable for much more than maybe 35 minutes given the consistently high speed and blasting nature of the music.

Lockup's debut album isn't anything special, but it is a solid workhorse; the sort of album that you put on when you just don't know what to listen to and end up being pretty pleased with the result. This is certainly an album that's secondary in importance to any of Napalm Death's more seminal works, but it's still worth a look from any of the death/grind fans among us; there's enough great riffs and searing vocals to go around for many listens.

Speed, Brutality and Inspiration: Awesome!!! - 95%

CHRISTI_NS_ANITY8, September 30th, 2007

Oh fuck!! How I love this album!! I knew this band with the second one (awesome) and when I listened to this one I fell immediately in love too…this is what I call “pure ignorance death/grind” and that ain’t about fucking noise; this is pure violence through great songs, always inspired and catchy. The song writing is always a very important component in the music and Lock Up don’t forget about it!

“After Life In Purgatory” immediately explains what we would expect from this album: violence, catchy riffs and refrains and SPEED!!! Barker at drums is inhuman with his blast beats and up tempo. Fucking brutal! It’s true that a group, started only by passion and love for the music, is the most genuine thing but this one did a true fucking heavy and inspired album that surely won’t be forgotten.

Try to imagine a great mix of the best things done by "small" groups like Napalm Death, Terrorizer and Carcass and put it together with a great component of early hardcore and maybe you can find the true group’s essence. We are not talking about modern things or sounds, this is pure brutality looking always to the past. Albums like this one are a must in a metal scene always more and more full of technical musicians without passion and heart.

Tracks like “Delirium” with his schizophrenic riffage and hardcore tempo or the slow-beginning to “Slow Bleed Gorgon” are a manifest in the whole grind scene, so inspired by the so well done metal in late ‘80s-early 90’s. Peter Tagtgren is incredible at vocals: he's so able to change vocal lines from pure growls to primitive, scary screams that sometimes go very high in tonality. Pintado is always a great axe man…always professional and so inspired in creating violent but always catchy riffs, made for pure, savage headbanging.

It’s too difficult to choose the best songs in an almost perfect album …this is pure insane grinding brutality. I’ve warned you, now if you are strong enough, listen to this one and try not to escape with bleeding ears. Passion, brutality, sincerity, speed and inspiration…the receipts for an awesome album in this case.

Lockup make their presence known... - 85%

ABHORRED, April 18th, 2003

I remember it like it were yesterday...

I was browsing through the local record store roughly two years ago, when I was accosted by Erict the manager, who is also quite the Death Metal and Grind aficionado. He was holding a Lockup CD which had apparently just come in that day. He proceeded to tell me a bit about the background of the band, and I was skeptical, to say the least. I gave it a spin and was completely caught off guard and blown away in the span of a few seconds. I knew from just the tone of the first song that this was an intense album teeming with aggression...

"I must have it" I thought...

I rushed out to the car and tore the shrink wrap off, as if there were no tomorrow. I then put the CD in, turned the volume up as high as it would and sped off (almost running over a fire hydrant in my excitement). I drove around for at least a half hour aimlessly, just to enjoy this album in all it's venomous glory. Never have I done that before. From start to finish, this disc is just a totally cacophonous, outrageous, blasting demonstration of how Death/Grind should be done. Nick Barker's performance behind the kit is simply astounding. This man's speed, finesse, and stamina must be heard to be believed. Peter Tagtgren also shows that he has a bit more of a versatile growl than I had previously thought. Going from a subsonic rumble to a piercing shriek instantly and maintaining this intensity throughout the whole of the album, Mr. Tagtgren definitely proves his worth.

The actual songs themselves are also quite a kick in the head (Although a few of the riffs Pintado and Embury play just sound like Napalm or Terrorizer leftovers). Aside from that, Lockup has some very tasty breakdowns spread out throughout the album. One of my favorites being the final minute of 'Submission'. It's just crushing, that's the only way I know how to describe it.

In short, if you like Death/Grind played with ferocity and skill, definitely seek this out. However, if you're more of a purist, this may turn you off. There are some definitive Death Metal sounds on this CD, and you can't really call it wholly Grind. All in all, a great debut from a great band with a great future (provided they don't get shelved as a "side-project"). I know I'm looking forward to hearing what this camp has in store for us in the coming years.